previously on the o.c. ...

Every time we visit Orange County, part of me never wants to leave. These pictures were taken in Yorba Linda and Balboa Island and gah! Sometimes I wonder why we don't live here already. But then I remember how astronomical the rent is, and I come back to the reality that at least for now, Utah is home for us. That doesn't stop me from dreaming of my retirement beach house here though...

This is my husband Drew, the vampire

 Obviously this shot of me was taken by Drew...but the rest of the pictures in this post were taken by me! I know I sound so braggy every time I mention that, but I really am excited about this new hobby of mine, and awaiting the arrival of these particular film scans was so fun! Also, I should note that I have nooo idea how to even start editing photos and I haven't touched or tweaked any of these photos. From what I understand, there is quite an art to scanning film. I am amazed by how good they look directly from the lab! It's all props to them, because clearly I am no pro yet ;) S/O to thefindlab.com !!!

These last two were taken at Seven Magic Mountains, an art installation located a few miles south of Las Vegas, right off I-15. We stopped here on our drive back to Utah because after seeing it all over Instagram, I wanted to see it for myself! According to the artist, Ugo Rondinone, the location is symbolic of the in-between of the natural and the artificial: the natural expressed by the desert and mountain ranges, with the artificial expressed by the close proximity to the highway and constant flow of traffic between L.A. and Vegas. I was in awe of these large-scale, colorful totems. They are made out of painted, locally-sourced boulders and stand 30-35 feet tall! Neat! Seven Magic Mountains is a two-year public art installation that will be up until May 2018. Check it out while you can!

what happens in vegas...

...ends up getting blogged about. After a wonderful week at Lake Powell with Drew, the two of us left for Las Vegas for the weekend. We arrived Friday afternoon but were too tired to do much  and ended up going to bed around 9 P.M. We made up for a boring evening with a jam-packed Saturday. Both of us have only ever driven through Vegas, so we wanted to do as much touristy business as possible. Since the Strip is obviously more exciting at night, we researched things to do and ventured to The Mob Museum during the day, a museum devoted to organized crime and law enforcement in America. I found this museum so interesting and very informative. I learned a lot more than I probably wanted to know about mobsters in the early 20th century and their rise to power in the biggest cities in the country. Afterward, Drew and I expressed our need to watch some classic mafia movies that neither of us have seen. So sometime in the near future we're having a Mob Date Night: gangster movies and pasta.

convicts

phat staxx

Our main reason for hitting up Vegas was for the wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Nilsen on August 23rd, 2014 in the Las Vegas Temple. I am lucky enough to know both of these sweet people and I was so happy that Drew and I could make it to their reception! Bradley served in my mission back home in Lancaster and actually spent Christmas Day with my family one year. I met Karli through Desireé last summer when all three of them were sports camp counselors together (which is when Karli and Bradley first met each other too). I hung out with them quite a bit at the beginning of fall semester when they first started dating and it was so fun to be able to see them on their wedding day one year later! They make such a cute couple and Karli was a vision. I remember wedding dress shopping with her and Karli describing exactly what she wanted in a dress. She didn't find it that day, but the dress she did find was EXACTLY what she had in mind and it was gorgeous. Congrats and best wishes to the Nilsens! 

08.23.2014

#bradandkar

To end our Vegas weekend we hit up the Strip after the reception and walked around feelin' fat and sassy in our wedding digs. I kinda felt like Harry on his first Diagon Alley trip where he wished he had eight more eyes to be able to take in all the sights and flashy signs. The Bellagio Water Show was beautiful and the second time we watched it (it goes on every 15 minutes) "Proud To Be An American" played and for some reason we found that hilarious. However, both of us came to the conclusion that Vegas is a little too crazy for us and if it wasn't for a show to attend there, we would not care to return again. I am glad I could experience the glamour of Vegas at night, but I am content with it being a one time thing. 

"Con te Partiro" played during the first Bellagio Water Show and it was majestic 

my girl CELINE <3

Bellagio lobby umbrellas and/or psychedelic mushrooms

my dapper wedding date <3 <3 <3

I had such a happy and exhausting past week with Drew and it was perfect after being apart for the majority of the summer. We survived a roadtrip together too so I guess that means we're doing something right. I came back to Provo with so much craziness awaiting me. I am in the process of moving into a super cute house with new roommates which will be a nice change. And then fall semester starts a week from today! How the eff did that happen? RIP summer 2k14. But this new semester should be a fun one and I can't wait to share it with all of you!